Vic cooling tower infection link explored

Authorities are investigating whether the outbreak of legionnaires' disease in a Melbourne suburb is linked to air conditioning cooling towers in the area.

Two men, aged 72 and 56, and a 38-year-old woman underwent hospital treatment after contracting the infection in November.

All three live or work in or around Bundoora in Melbourne's north.

Victoria's chief health officer, Dr Rosemary Lester, said samples were taken from a local cooling tower as the state health department investigated the cause of the illness.

"The cooling tower was sampled on Friday and shut down until it was disinfected today as a precaution. It will continue to be monitored, but the test results are not expected for several days," Dr Lester said in a statement on Monday.

Dr Lester urged any Bundoora resident with flu-like symptoms to be tested for the disease.

Legionnaires' disease causes flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, followed by respiratory problems and pneumonia.

High risk groups include those over 50, heavy smokers, heavy drinkers, diabetics, people with chronic lung disease and impaired body defences.

Legionnaires' disease is contracted through breathing in very fine droplets of water containing bacteria, such as spray drifts vented off from cooling towers.